Sadly, she’s right. A December 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that as many as many as 1 in 3 women have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. And as more and more men come forward with their sexual abuse stories, it’s clear that sexual abuse does seem to be an American tradition.

This is not OK. But you can speak out and challenge this tradition of violence. Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, now is the perfect time. Here are 10 ways that you can get involved.

3. Write your senators. Send a quick e-mail or make a phone call to your senators asking them to reauthorize the Violence against Women Act. This is an issue that the AAUW Action Fund Lobby Corps, a volunteer group of AAUW members, has focused on over the last few months. They’ve succeeded in adding more senators as co-sponsors, but your help is still needed.

Download the brand new Circle of Six phone app, which was designed so that people can quickly send a “come and get me” message to their designated circle of friends. Those friends will receive a map showing the location of the person who is in danger.

8. Use the arts or join a march. Take part in or organize arts-based initiatives or a march to raise awareness about sexual assault. Get involved in one of these popular initiatives:

The Clothesline Project: Women affected by violence decorate a shirt and hang it on a clothesline in public as testimony to the problem of sexual violence.

V-Day: Communities can hold a performance or a film screening to raise awareness about violence against women and girls and to raise money for local organizations that are working to end violence. Last week, AAUW sponsored a Vagina Monologues performance hosted by the D.C. Women’s Theater Group, and the proceeds went to RAINN. Visit the V-Day website to learn more about how to organize a V-Day event.

White Ribbon Campaign: By wearing a white ribbon, you can make a personal pledge to “never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and girls.” You can order materials online.

Take Back the Night March: Popular on college campuses, this march takes place after dark and makes a statement that women have the right to be in public at night without the risk of sexual violence. Order a kit online.

9. Apply for a grant for campus programs. On a rolling basis, AAUW members can apply for AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund Campus Outreach Grants and receive up to $750 to hold an event about sexual assault on a local campus. This April, AAUW groups in Arkansas, Illinois, and New York are hosting campus events on this topic.

10. Apply for a grant for academic or community work. AAUW’s fellowships and grants offer numerous funding opportunities for members of the public. Some of the current and past awardees have focused their work on sexual violence issues, and you can, too. Read the application information.